1932 Ford Roadster - Readers’ Rods

Bob Balkow tells us that although he used to run a homebuilt, low-buck ’32 roadster, when his kids were small they always wanted to go places with him and his wife. Though the Balkows also owned a ’34 Tudor sedan that the family would take trips in, Bob wanted an open car so the kids could enjoy riding with the top down. The body, top, and framerails of the car you see here turned up for sale, so Bob had them shipped from California to Connecticut. At the time his son and daughter were 3 and 5 years old. Between working, raising the family, and helping friends build cars, it would be 15 years before the ’32 was finished. Now his 18-year-old son accompanies him to shows, but his daughter and wife, though they sometimes go along, do “girl things together”.

Bob handled all the fabrication, body, and paintwork in his garage, only farming out the interior, undertaken by Dave’s Upholstery in Oakville, Connecticut. The frame was stretched 4 inches, and the hood a further 2 inches. Bob thinned the grille shell by 2 inches to match, as well as narrowing it and the insert. Drivetrain? A 355 Chevy with four chrome and gold-plated Webers, TH350, and 9-inch rear. Bob fabbed the A/C and alternator brackets to mount them low in the chassis. We’re glad we can see heater plumbing in that engine bay pic too, as it looks a tad chilly there Bob!